Power sanders: injury statistics
Belt, orbital and disc sanders. In 2025 they were involved in an estimated 2,047 emergency room visits in the US.
ER visits per year
2016–2025 · 40 sampled cases in 2025Noise exposure calculator
Injury type
Share of ER visits, 2021–2025
Body part injured
Share of ER visits, 2021–2025
Age of injured people
80% male · 2021–2025
Real cases
From NEISS case narratives, 2024–2025. Abbreviations expanded.
Recalls of power sanders
Mirka Recalls Electric Random Orbital Sanders Due to Fire Hazard2016-05-31 · FirePower sandersMirka Extends Recall of Compact Electric Random Orbital Sanders Due to Fire Hazard2015-01-27 · FirePower sandersMirka Recalls Compact Electric Random Orbital Sanders Due to Fire Hazard2014-06-04 · FirePower sandersSheet Sanders Recalled by One World Technologies Due to Laceration Hazard2011-05-05 · LacerationPower sandersBlack & Decker Recalls Random Orbit Sanders Due to Laceration Hazard2010-09-09 · LacerationPower sandersQuestions
How many people are injured by power sanders each year?
About 2,047 people were treated in US emergency rooms for injuries involving power sanders in 2025, according to CPSC's NEISS estimates. The average over 2021–2025 was 1,463 a year.
What are the most common injuries from power sanders?
Laceration is the most common diagnosis (41% of cases 2021–2025), and the finger is the most often injured body part (42%).
How often do injuries from power sanders need hospital admission?
3.6% of ER visits ended with the patient admitted or transferred to another hospital in 2021–2025.
About these numbers
National estimates from the CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), product code 803. A case is counted if the tool appears in any of its three product fields. Estimates under 1,200 or based on fewer than 20 cases are flagged. Methodology · CSV
